Buckingham Palace reportedly took the unusual step of briefing journalists about a sensitive passage in the book Power and the Palace by royal author Valentine Low, which recounts a troubling incident from Queen Camilla’s teenage years.
According to the book, Camilla once fought off an attempted assault while travelling alone on a train to Paddington. Former mayor Boris Johnson was reportedly told about the ordeal by Camilla herself during a meeting at Clarence House in 2008, as they discussed plans to expand rape crisis centres in London.
Johnson’s former aide Guto Harri recalled to GB News that Camilla had described how, as a teenager, she noticed a man’s hand moving toward her during the journey. She struck him with her shoe and later reported him, leading to his arrest.
Harri said the Palace wanted to ensure the story was handled carefully, calling it a “very sensitive subject.” He praised Camilla’s response, saying it showed “presence of mind, strength of character and civic personality.”
Palace aides also stressed that Camilla was not portrayed as a victim, marking a rare break from the Palace’s usual reluctance to engage with personal stories of this nature.
